Method of assembling and securing articles with a support

ABSTRACT

A plurality of stacked magnetic cores have a pair of wires threaded through axially aligned openings of the cores. The free ends of the wires are secured to a comb-like, plastic support stick which is formed with a plurality of nests for receiving and supporting individual cores. The cores are fed successively into the nests of the support stick. As the stick is rocked about its longitudinal axis and also indexed longitudinally, the wires are fed through and between successive slots in the stick adjacent to the nests so that each core is supported on the stick and wired thereby. During the wiring of the cores with the stick, each core is clamped within its nest until the wires secure the core with the stick.

United States Patent 1 Fagerstrom et al.

[ 1March 13, 1973 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AND SECURING ARTICLES WITH A SUPPORT [73] Assignee: Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 104,672

[52] US. Cl ..29/604, 29/203 MM, 29/241, 29/433, 340/174 MA [51] Int. Cl ..,..II0lf 7/06 [58] Field of Search ..29/604, 203 MM, 433, 241; 340/174 M, 174 MA [56] References Cited 3,571,902 3/1971 Greene ..29/604 X 3,448,515 6/1969 Fagerstrom et al ..29/604 3,435,519 4/1969 James ..29/604 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerCarl E. Hall Attorney--W. M. Kain, R. P. Miller and A. C. Schwarz, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A plurality of stacked magnetic cores have a pair of wires threaded through axially aligned openings of the cores. The free ends of the wires are secured to a comb-like, plastic support stick which is formed with a plurality of nests for receiving and supporting individual cores. The cores are fed successively into the nests of the support stick. As the stick is rocked about its longitudinal axis and also indexed longitudinally, the wires are fed through and between successive slots in the stick adjacent to the nests so that each core is supported on the stick and wired thereby. During the wiring of the cores with the stick, each core is clamped within its nest until the wires secure the core with the stick.

13 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAM 311975 3,719,9 9

SHEET 10F s g lNVENTORS 37 J w FAGERSTROM F/(; 4 FE. ROBE/N5 ATTORNEY PATENTEUHAR] 3 1915 SHEET 7 0F 8 PATENTEDHARI 3 I973 SHEET 8 BF 8 FIG. /2

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AND SECURING ARTICLES WITH A SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for assembling and securing articles with a support and relates particularly to methods of and apparatus for assembling magnetic cores with a support member and wiring the cores securely with the member for use in a memory storage device.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the manufacture of memory devices, such as the type of device described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,448,515, which issued on June 10, 1969, to J. W. Fagerstrom and W. C. Kent, magnetic cores are frequently assembled in an array and wired to function as access switching or memory elements. Usually the cores are exceptionally small and composed of a fragile material. The cores must be handled carefully and secured with a support in a desired array. Generally, the assembly and wiring operation is accomplished by manual operations which are tedious, time-consuming and occasionally result in costly errors in wiring. Further, the cores must be held with the support member during the wiring operation.

Thus there is a need for a way of assembling the delicate cores with a support and for stringing wires through the assembled cores with a minimum of loss due to core damage and time-consuming operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for as sembling and securing articles with a support.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for assembling magnetic cores with a support and wiring the cores with the support.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for assembling successive magnetic cores with a support and wiring each core with the support as the core is assembled with the support.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of and apparatus for clamping magnetic cores with a support during a period when the cores are being assembled with and wired to the support.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved methods of guiding wires onto selected portions of a support to wire magnetic cores with the support in a prescribed array.

A method of assembling and securing articles with a support in accordance with certain principles of the invention may include the steps of threading at least one wire through openings in a plurality of articles, moving successive ones of the articles over the wire and into engagement with the support, clamping each of the articles with the support and moving the portion of the wire which is adjacent to each of the articles about a portion of the article and the support to wire the articles with the support.

An apparatus for assembling and securing articles with a support in accordance with certain principles of the invention may include means for supporting a plurality of articles having at least one wire threaded through openings in the articles, means for feeding successively the articles over the wire and into engagement with an article support, means for clamping each article with the article support and means for moving relatively the article support and a portion of the wire adjacent to the article in a prescribed manner to wrap the wire around a portion of the article support and the article so that the article is secured with the article support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a comblike support stick for magnetic cores;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the back side of the support stick illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the support stick of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view with parts broken away showing magnetic cores wired with the support stick of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing an apparatus for assembling magnetic cores with a support stick in accordance with certain principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view having parts shown in phantom taken from the front of the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the support stick of FIG. 1 secured within a portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view taken from the rear of the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 showing a portion of the apparatus for guiding wire onto portions of the support stick;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 5, showing an escapement mechanism and a magnetic core-clamping device of the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 in a first position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 9, showing the escapement mechanism and the core-clamping device in a second position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the escapement mechanism releasably supported at the ends of a pair of spaced arms, and

FIGS. 12 through 17 are diagrammatical representations of several positions assumed by the support stick during the assembly and wiring of the magnetic cores with the stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated partially an article support, such as a comb-like plastic support stick designated generally by the numeral 21, for supporting articles, such as disc-shaped magnetic cores designated generally by the numeral 22. The support stick 21 is formed with a plurality of spaced posts 23- 23 defining slots 24-24 therebetween along one edge of the stick. Each post 23 has a ledge 26 extending perpendicularly from the free end thereof and from a forward face of the stick.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, an inner surface of each ledge 26 is formed with a material buildup 27 having arcuate surfaces 28-28. The arcuate surfaces 28-28 of adjacent ledges 26-26 are spaced on opposite sides of a common one of the slots 24-24 and cooperate-to define a seat of a nest, designated generally by the numeral 29, for one of the magnetic cores 22-22. Each of the nests 29-29 also includes wall portions of adjacent ones of the posts 23 against which one of the magnetic cores 22-22 will be urged when the core is properly seated within the nest. Each of the magnetic cores 22-22 is formed with an axial opening 31 which is aligned with a portion of the adjacent slot 24 when the core is properly seated in the nest 29.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the support stick 21 is formed with surfaces 32-32 (one shown) at opposite ends thereof, each of which support a pair of terminals 33-33. Each end (one shown) of the support stick 21 is formed with a pair of longitudinally extending members 34-34 which are spaced apart to define a slot 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rear face of each of the posts 26-26 is formed with a groove 37 with the grooves of the posts being aligned with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the leading ends of a pair of insulated wires 38-38, of extremely small gage, are wrapped physically around the terminals 33-33 at one end of the stick 21. The wires 38-38 are then passed through the adjacent-most groove 37, through the adjacent-most slot 24, through the opening 31 of the core 22 aligned with the slot, over the core, back through the slot, through the groove 37 formed in the first post 23 and into the next slot 24. This pattern of wiring is continued until the pair of wires 38-38 is threaded through all of the slots 24-24 and cores 22-22 which are aligned therewith. The trailing portions of the wires 38-38 are then wrapped physically around the terminals 33-33 at the other end of the stick 21 and severed from the supply.

In this manner, the cores 22-22 are secured with the stick 21 by the wires 38-38. The cores 22-22 are also assembled in an array with the wires 38-38 to function ultimately as a portion of an access switching assembly in a memory module of the type referred to in the aforementioned U. S. Pat. No. 3,448,515. The end portions of the wires 38-38 are manually unwrapped from around the terminals 33-33, stick 21 in a prescribed fashion and connected electrically to the terminals at opposite ends of the stick to facilitate electrical connection of the wires with external circuits (not shown). The assembled unit, which includes the stick 21, the cores 22- 22 and the wires 38-38, is now ready for assembly with other elements of the aforementioned access switching assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 39, for assembling successive magnetic cores 22-22 (FIG. 1) with the support stick 21 while securing the assembled cores with the stick by moving the wires 38-38 in a pattern about portions of the stick and the cores, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The apparatus 39 includes a plat form 41 which supports a pair of spaced blocks 42 and 43 thereon. Identical U-shaped members 44 and 46, one of which is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6, are supported on the blocks 42 and 43, respectively." A pair of guide bars 47 and 48 are attached to the upper'ends of the legs of the U-shaped members 44 and 46 in a fixed parallel relationship with respect to the platform 41.

A pair of slidable end plates 49 and 51 are positioned for sliding movement on the guide bars 47 .and 48. The configuration of each of the end plates 49 and 51 is as illustrated in FIG. 6 with respect to end plate 51. Referring again to FIG. 5, a pair of mounting blocks, designated generally by the numerals 52 and 53, are mounted for rotation on the inside faces of the end plates 49 and 51, respectively, so that the mounting blocks are in spaced opposition to each other. A support bar, designated generally by the numeral 54, is attached at opposite ends thereof to the mounting blocks 52 and 53. A rack 55 is attached at opposite ends thereof to a lower portion of each of the end plates 49 and 51 with teeth of the rack extending downwardly. It

is noted that the rack 55 is shown partially in phantom view in FIG. 5. The end plates 49 and 51, the mounting blocks 52 and 53, the support bar 54 and the rack 55 form a carriage assembly, designated generally by the numeral 56, which slides over the guide bars 47 and 48.

An air cylinder 57 is mounted on a pedestal 58 which is supported on the platform 41. A pawl 59 is controlled for movement by the air cylinder 57, and is positionable for engagement with the teeth of the rack 55 by movement over a cam 61, which is positioned beneath the pawl and supported on a plate 62 on the platform 41. Thus, when the air cylinder 57 is operated periodically, the pawl 59 follows the contour of the cam 61 and engages the teeth of the rack 55 to move the rack to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5. As the rack 55 is moved to the left, the carriage assembly 56 is moved thereby to the left. A pawl 63 extends from the plate 62 and prevents retrograde movement of the rack 55 during the cycle of operation when the rack is being indexed to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5.

A rotary air cylinder 64 is attached to the outside face of the end plate 51 and is also attached to the mounting block 53 for imparting selective rotary or rocking motion to the mounting block, and consequently to the mounting block 52 which is linked to the mounting block 53 through the support bar 54.

Referring further to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a vertical stand 66 which extends upwardly from and is supported on the platform 41. A vertical post 67 extends upwardly from a portion of a platform 68 which is positioned on an upper surface of the vertical stand 66. A first pair of horizontally spaced arcuate arms 69 and 71 are mounted for pivotal movement about an intermediate portion thereof to the vertical post 67. A second pair of horizontally spaced arcuate arms 72 and 73 are also mounted for pivotal movement about an intermediate portion thereof to the vertical post 67. One

end of each of the arms 69, 71, 72 and 73 are connected pivotally to a vertically movable actuating bar 74, which is movable by an air cylinder 76. The air cylinder 76 is attached for pivotal movement to a vertical support plate 77, which is attached to the stand 66.

The opposite ends of the arms 72 and 73 support for pivoting movement thereabout a magnetic-core magazine, designated generally by the numeral 78. The lower end of the magazine 78 is positioned within an escapement mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 79, which is removably attached between and to the free ends of the arms 69 and 71. When the air cylinder 76 is operated, the actuator bar 74 is moved vertically to move the arcuate arms in a selected direction, so that the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 can be selectively positioned to facilitate a core-loading operation.

A pair of wire-supply containers 81 and 82 are mounted on vertical posts 83 and 85, respectively, which extend upwardly from the platform 41. The wire containers 81 and 82 contain facilities for supporting and supplying the individual wires 38-38 (FIG. 1) from supply reels within the containers. Tensioning rollers 86 and 87 are located above the containers 81 and 82, respectively, and are supported on stands 88 and 89 which facilitate the supporting of the tension rollers over the respective containers. Guide rollers 91 and 92 are supported on arms 93 and 94, respectively, which are supported by and extend from the vertical post 67. The arrangement of the rollers 86, 87, 91 and 92 permit the wires 38-38 to be withdrawn from the containers 81 and 82 and passed into the magazine 78.

An air cylinder 96 is supported on the platform 68 and controls the movement of a pusher bar, designated generally by the numeral 97, which facilitates selective control of the escapement mechanism 79.

A core-clamping device, designated generally by the numeral 98, is supported on the pusher bar 97, and is utilized to clamp each magnetic core 22 in its nest 29 (FIGS. 1 and 3) during the period when the core is being wired with the stick 21. in addition, there is partially illustrated a wire-guide device, designated generally by the numeral 99, which guides the wires 38-38 along the back side of the stick 21 (FIG. 2) so that the wires are appropriately placed within the grooves 37-37 formed in the posts 23-23 along the back side of the stick.

Referring now to FIG. 7, which is a view taken from the front of the apparatus 39 (FIGS. 5 and 6), the wireguide device 99 includes a ring 101 having a radial slot 102 formed in an upper portion thereof. The lower portion of the ring 101 is formed with flanges 103 and 104 extending tangentially from the bottom thereof. The flanges 103 and 104 are attached to vertical posts 106 and 107, respectively, which extend upwardly from the platform 41, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Each of the mounting blocks 52 and 53 are formed with a pair of spaced extended portions 108 and 109 to define a slot 111 therebetween, as illustrated in the mounting block 53 of FIG. 7. The slot 111 in each of the mounting'blocks 52 and 53 is sufficiently wide to receive the members 34-34 of the ends of the stick 21.

The support bar 54 has a generally square cross-sectional configuration, and is formed with a longitudinal slot 112 which is sufficiently dimensioned to receive the plain longitudinal edge of the stick 21 which is opposite the edge formed with the posts 23-23. The bar 54 is positioned to slide through a slot 113 formed in a guide arm slide 114 which is positioned for movement about the inner circular configuration of the ring 101. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the stick 21 is supported in a position adjacent to the rear inside portion of the ring 101. FIG. 8 is a view taken from the rear of the apparatus 39 (FIGS. 5 and 6) with the stick 21 having been moved from the rear inside portion of the ring 101, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to the front inside portion of the ring. As shown in FIG. 8, a wire-guide arm 116 extends from one side of the slide 114, and is formed with a slot 117 at the free end thereof, which permits the passage of the wires 38-38 therethrough.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the pusher bar 97 has an extended portion 118 which extends past one side of and beyond the escapement mechanism 79. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the core-clamping device 88 includes a clamping arm 119 which is pivotally mounted to a pin 121 extending horizontally and laterally from the extended portion 1 18 of the pusher bar 97. A spring 122 is attached to a portion of the clamping arm 119 and to a stud member 123 which also extends from the extended portion 118 of the pusher bar 97. The spring 122 normally urges the clamping arm 119 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9.

An L-shaped member 124 is pivotally attached by a pin 125 to the extended portion 118 of the pusher bar 97, and has a pin 126 extending therefrom toward the path of movement of the upper end of the clamping arm 119. A spring 127 normally urges the L-shaped member 124 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9.

A stop member 128 is fixedly attached to the arcuate arm 69, and extends toward the L-shaped member 124 to limit the clockwise movement of the L-shaped member. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the lower end of the clamping arm 119 is formed in a bifurcated configuration with furcations 129 and 131 being sufficiently spaced to permit the wires 38-38 to pass through the spacing defined by the furcations.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the magazine 78 includes an inner tube 132 surrounded by an outer tube 133 in a concentric cross-sectional configuration. The longitudinal opening through the inner tube 132 is sufficient to permit the passage of the two wires 38-38 therethrough.

The outer diameter of the inner tube 132 and the inner diameter of the outer tube 133 is sufficient to permit the cores 22-22 to be positioned axially within the space defined between the inner and outer tubes. The tubes 132 and 133 are sufficiently long to support a plurality of the cores 22-22, which are sufficient in number to facilitate the assembly and wiring of the required number of cores with the stick 21.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9, the 'escapement mechanism 79 includes a housing 134 which is formed with a central opening 136 for supporting the outer tube 133 of the magazine 78 therein. The escapement mechanism 79 further includes a slide 137 which is movable through a channel 138 formed in the housing 134 and also through a side opening 139 formed in the outer tube 133 of the magazine 78. The slide 137 is formed with a major opening 141 which is designed to permit movement of the cores 22-22 therethrough when the slide is selectively positioned. A pair of spaced shoulders 142-142 (one shown) supports the lowermost core 22 within the magazine 78 and prevents the core from moving'into a lower portion 143 of the magazine 78 when the slide 137 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 9.

A space between the spaced shoulders 142- 142 permits the slide 137 to move from left to right, and vice versa, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and relative to the inner tube 132 of the magazine 78, which extends through the housing 134 without interruption. Spaces 144 and 146, which are located at opposite ends of the shoulders 142-142, are sufficiently dimensioned to permit movement therethrough of the cores 22-22 when the slide 137 is positioned to align the cores with the spaces. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein the slide 137 has been moved to the left so that the space 146 is axially aligned with the vertically stacked cores 22-22.

Referring again to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a plunger, designated generally by the number 147, which is provided with a forward section 148, a rearward section 149 and an intermediate flange 151. The forward section 148 is inserted into an opening 152 formed in the housing 134 of the escapement mechanism 79. The opening 152 is aligned with an opening 153 formed in a portion of the outer tube-133 of the magazine 78 to permit the forward section 148 of the plunger 147 to be moved through the opening 153 and into the space between the inner tube 132 and the outer tube 133. As the plunger 147 is moved to the left, the intermediate flange 151 moves into a counterbore 154 of the opening 152. i

The end of the rearward section 149 of the plunger 147 is inserted through an opening 155 formed in an upper arm 156 of the slide 137, and has a collar 157 secured thereto which rests within a counterbore 158 of the opening 155. A spring 159 is positioned about the rearward section 149 of the plunger 147 and is floating thereon between the flange 151 and the upper arm 156 of the slide 137. Another spring 161 extends between the housing 134 and a lower arm 1162 of the slide 137 to normally maintain the slide in the position as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9, the pusher bar 97 includes an actuating element 163 which is controlled to move toward the slide 137 and to move the slide to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The pusher bar 97, as previously mentioned, is controlled for movement by the air cylinder 96 (FIG. 6). e 1

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the housing 134 of the escapement mechanism is provided with a pair of support arms 164 (one shown) which extend from opposite sides of the housing. The arms 164-164 are designed to fit into slots 166-166 formed in the ends of the arms 69 and 71. Each of the ends of the arms 69 and 71 also support a spring clip 167 which is attached by a fastener 168 to the associated arm. Each spring clip 167 is further provided with a locking bar 169 which fits into complementary grooves 171 and 172 formed in the respective arms 69 and 71 to retain the arms 164-164 of the housing 134 in a locked position at the free ends of the arms 69 and 71. The use of the clips 167-167 permits the escapement mechanism 79 and the magazine 78 to be removed from supporting engagement with the arms 69 and 71. This feature is particularly useful when it is desired to replenish the supply of magnetic cores 22-22 within the magazine 78.

OPERATION In the operation of the apparatus 39, the spring clips 167- 167 (FIG. 11) are moved sufi'iciently away from the arms 69 and 71 to permit the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 to be moved away from the ends of the arms by moving the magazine about a pivot pin 173, which secures the upper end of the magazine 78'to the ends of the arms 72 and 73, as illustratedin FIG. 6. This operation inverts the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 so that the open end of the magazine is pointing generally upwardly.

The slide 137 is then moved manually so that the space 144'(FIG. 9) of the slide is aligned with the axial opening of the outer tube 133. A plurality of the magnetic cores 22-22 are then deposited into the open end of the magazine 78 so that the central opening 31 of each of the cores is positioned about the inner tube 132. Generally the number of magnetic cores 22-22 loaded into the magazine 78, at this time, is equal to the number of cores to be assembled with the stick 21. It is noted that by moving the slide 137 to the right, from the position illustrated in FIG. 9, during the core-loading operation, the plunger 147 does not enter the space between the inner and outer tubes 132 and 133, respectively, to thereby permit the cores 22-22 to be loaded into the space.

After the cores 22-22 have been loaded within the magazine 78, the slide 137 is released and the biasing action of the spring 161 moves the slide back to a relative position within the housing 134, which is illustrated in FIG. 9. The magazine 78 is then pivoted about the pivot pin 173 (FIG. 6) so that the arms 164-164 (FIG. 1 1), which extend from the housing 134, are positioned within the slots 166-166. The spring clips 167- 167 are placed in position to facilitate the locking of the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 in the position as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11. As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the magazine 78 is returned to the vertically oriented core-feeding position, the lowermost core 22 comes to rest on the spaced shoulders 142- 142, and the remaining cores within the magazine are stacked thereabove. It is noted that the air cylinder 76 (FIG. 6) could be operated prior to the pivoting upwardly of the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79. This would raise the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 vertically upwardly to insure that the magazine and mechanism clear any possibly interfering elements of the apparatus 39 when the magazine and mechanism are pivoted upwardly.

Normally the mounting blocks 52 and 53 are in a rest position opposite from that illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein the slots 111-111 (one shown) of the mounting blocks are in a position from that shown. In assembling the stick 21 within the carriage assembly 56, the stick is inserted through the radial slot 102 formed in the ring 101, and the longitudinally extending members 34-34 at the opposite end of the stick are inserted into the slots 111-111 of the mounting blocks 52 and 53. As the members 34-34 are moved into the slots 111-111 of the mounting blocks 52 and 53, the

lower longitudinal edge of the stick 21 is inserted into the longitudinal slot 112 formed in the support bar 54. A pin 174 is inserted into openings formed in the spaced portions 108 and 109 of the mounting blocks 52 and '53, and extends through the slot 36 formed between the spaced members 34-34 at each end of the stick 21 to retain the stick within the slots 111- 111 of the mounting blocks and within the slot 112 of the support bar 54.

Normally the stick 21 is positioned within the carriage assembly 56 so that the terminals 33-33, which appear at the leftend of the stick as illustrated in FIG. 7, are located directly beneath the lower end of the vertically oriented magazine 78.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wires 38-38 are drawn from the containers 81 and 82 and are threaded through the inner tube 132 of the magazine 78. The

threaded of the wires 38-38 through the inner tube 132 of the magazine 78 is illustrated particularly in FIG. 9. The wires 38-38 are then passed between the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119 (FIG. 9) and are then wrapped physically around the terminals 33-33 at the left end of the stick 21, which is illustrated in FIG. 5. The ends of the wires 38-38 are now attached to the stick 21 and can then be weaved and threaded through various portions of the stick and the successively fed magnetic cores 22-22.

The rotary air cylinder 64 is then rotated to position the carriage assembly 56 in such a way that the stick 21 is oriented to a position as illustrated in FIG. 8. As the stick 21 is rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 8, the wires move into the slot 117 of the wire-guide arm 116. The indexing pawl 59 (FIG. is then moved by the air cylinder 57 to move the stick 21 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5. When the stick 21 is moved to the left, the wires 38-38 are guided and distributed into the slot 37, which is immediately adjacent to the terminals 33-33 as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is noted that the wire-guide arm 116 and the slot 117 facilitate the guiding and distributing of the wires 38-38 into the slot 37 as the stick 21 is moved to the left. It is further noted that FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration viewed from a rear portion of the apparatus 39 so that, while the stick 21 is indicated as moving to the right as illustrated in FIG. 8, it is the same movement as illustrated to the left in FIG. 5.

The indexing movement of the carriage assembly 56 facilitates the positioning of the wires 38-38 adjacent to the first slot 24 at the left end of the stick 21, as viewed in FIG. 7, which is immediately adjacent to the terminals 33-33 having the wires therearound. At this time the stick 21 is in the oriented position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The rotary air cylinder 64 is then operated to rotate the stick 21 from the position as illustrated in FIG. 8 to a position as illustrated in FIG. 7. During the rotation of the stick 21, the wires 38-38 are moved through the first slot 24 so that the wires extend upwardly from the nest 29 (FIG. 7). This position is also illustrated in FIG. 12. It is noted that, when the stick is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, the wires 38-38 are automatically pulled from the supplies within the containers 81 and 82, and that the wires are properly back tensioned to provide a taut wire-wrapping arrangement.

' Referring now to FIG. 10, the air cylinder 96 (FIG. 6) is'operated to move the pusher bar 97 to the left so that the actuating element 163 engages the right end of the slide 137 and pushes the slide to the right, from the position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the position illustrated in FIG. 10. As the slide 137 is moved to the left, the spring 161 is compressed and the spring 159 is compressed to urge the intermediate flange 151 into the counterbore 154. As the intermediate flange 151 enters the counterbore 154, the forward section 148 of the plunger 147 moves through the opening 153 formed in the outer sleeve 133 of the magazine 78 to engage and hold the next-to-the-lowermost magnetic core 22 in a clamped position within the magazine, as illustrated in- FIG. 10. This clamping action prevents the magnetic cores 22-22, which are above the next-to-the-lowermost core, from falling downwardly.

As the slide is moved to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the shoulders 142-142 are moved to the left so that the space 146 which appears at the right end of the shoulders is aligned with the inner diameter of the outer tube 133 of the magazine 78. Since the lowermost magnetic core 22, which is illustrated in FIG. 9, is not held by the clamping action of the plunger 147, the lowermost core is permitted to pass through the lower portion 143 of the magazine 78. The released core 22 moves downwardly over the wires 38-38 and is guided by the wires into the nest 29 (FIG. 3). The nest 29 is located about the slot 24 through which the wires 38- 38'are positioned as a result of the recent rotary movement of the stick 21 from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9, 10 and 12.

As the pusher bar 97 is moved to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the extend portion 118 thereof is also moved to the left. As the extended portion 118 moves to the left, the L-shaped member 124 is rocked about its pivot pin 125 by the biasing action of the spring 127 until the underside of the member engages a stop pin 176 which extends outwardly from the extended portion 118. As the L-shaped member 124 is being rocked to a position as illustrated in FIG. 10, the pin 126 engages the upper end of the clamping arm 119 to pivot the arm in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 121, which causes the spring 122 to stretch to the position as illustrated in FIG. 10. The movement of the extended portion 118 of the pusher bar 97 withdraws the clamping arm 119 away from the area whereat the core 22 is assembled within the nest 29 (FIG. 3) of the stick 21. The furcations 129 and 131 of the arm 119 are thereby moved upwardly and to the left of the area whereat the core 22 is assembled with the stick 21.

After the lowermost core 22 has been moved from the magazine 78 and the escapement mechanism 79 to a position of assembly with the stick 21, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13, the air cylinder 96 (FIG. 6) is controlled to retract the pusher bar 97 to the right to the position illustrated in FIG. 9. As the actuating element 163 moves away from the slide 137, the biasing action of the spring 161 causes the slide to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 9. At the same time the collar 157 moves into the counterbore 158 of the crossarm 156, and pulls the plunger 147 to the right so that the end of the forward section 148 of the plunger is withdrawn from engagement with the adjacent, previously clamped, magnetic core 22. In addition, as the slide 137 moves to the right to a position as illustrated in FIG. 9, the shoulders 142-142 are again aligned with the vertical stack of magnetic cores 22-22 so that the previously clamped core can now move downwardly onto the shoulders. The above-supported cores 22-22 move downwardly within the magazine 78 to assume a stacked position, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As the pusher bar 97 is moved to the right, the extended portion 118 is also moved to the right, and the stop member 128 engages the upper end of the L- shaped member 124 to pivot the member in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 125, as illustrated in FIG. 9. As the L-shaped member 124 is pivoted to a position as illustrated in FIG. 9, the biasing action of the spring 122 causes the clamping arm 119 to be moved to a position illustrated in FIG. 9. The forward ends of the furcations 129 and 131 are thereby positioned adjacent to the exposed flat side of the core 22, which has just been assembled with the stick 21. The spacing between the furcations 129 and 131 is aligned with the wires 3838 extending from the core 22 to the magazine 78. This arrangement is illustrated particularly in FIG. 13.

It is noted that the purpose of the clamping arm 119 is to engage and clamp the core 22 within the nest 29 (FIG. 2) after the core has been assembled with the stick 21 but before the stick is rotated to facilitate the passing of the wires back through the slot 24. However, because of the fragile nature of the core 22, the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119 are not moved into engagement with the core during the movement of the extended portion 118 of the pusher bar 97 to the right to an ultimate position, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The furcations 129 and 13-1 are thereby prepositioned immediately adjacent to the core 22, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

When the stick 21 is subsequently moved to a position as illustrated in FIG. 14, the core 22 is moved into clamping engagement with the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119. This permits the core 22 to be clamped temporarily with the stick 21 during selected portions of the wire-weaving operations. The precise positioning of the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119 immediately adjacent to the core 22, but not in engagement with the core, as illustrated in FIG. 13, is accomplished by the positioning of the pin 126 in the extended position in the L-shaped member 124, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Thereafter the rotary air cylinder 64 is controlled to partially rotate the mounting block 53 so that the stick 21 is moved to a position as illustrated in FIG. 14. As

previously noted, when the stick 21 moves from a position as illustrated in FIG. 13 to the position as illustrated in FIG. 14,'the exposed flat side of the core 22 is moved into engagement with the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119, whereby the core is clamped temporarily with the stick and supported thereby. In addition, the wires 3838 are permitted to move into the space between the furcations 129 and 131 so that the wire-weaving operation is permitted to be conducted without interference of the clamping of the core 22 with the stick 21. The rotary air cylinder 64 continues to move the stick 21 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 15, where the clamping arm 119 has not moved away from the temporary clamping engagement with the core 22. However, the wires 3838 have now .been sufficiently wrapped around a portion of the core 22 to hold the core within the nest 29 (FIG. 2) of the stick 21 during the remaining weaving of the wire through the slot 24 of the stick.

Thus, the temporary clamping of the core 22 with the stick 2] by the clamping arm 119 provides a hold-down feature which is necessary during a critical period when the core is not held with the stick. Further, the manner of permitting the clamping arm 119 to be in temporary engagement with the clamped core 22, provides a means for applying a precise amount of clamping force only during a period when such force whereby the force is removed when the wires 3838 have been sufficiently placed to hold the core with the stick 21. Also, the arrangement of the clamping arm 119 and the core 22 precludes the arm from moving into clamping engagement with the core when the arm is moved initially toward the core prior to any movement of the stick 21 and the core toward the furcations 129 and 131 of the arm.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the stick 2.1 continues to be rotated in a clockwise direction to a position whereat the wires 3838 now pass through the slot 24 and extend upwardly from the back side of the stick 21 so that the core 22 is essentially secured with the stick. As the stick 21 is rotated into the position as illustrated in FIG. 16, the wires 3838 move into the slot 117 of the wireguide arm 116. Thereafter the stick 21 continues to be rotated to a position as illustrated in FIG. 17. It is noted that the stick 21 has rotated in a clockwise direction from a 0 position in FIG. 13 to a 270 position in FIG. 17. The position of the stick 21 in FIG. 17 is also illustrated in FIG. 8.

As the stick 21 rotates into the position as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 17, the clamping arm 119 rides onto the adjacent portion of the guide-arm slide 114. However, the depth of the spacing between the furcations 129 and 131 of the clamping arm 119 is sufficient to permit freedom of movement of the wires 3838 therethrough. Thereafter the air cylinder 57 (FIG. 5) is operated to index the carriage assembly 56 so that the wires 3838 are guided and distributed into the groove 37 in the first post 23, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the wire-guide arm 116 and the associated slot 117 facilitate the guiding of the wires 3838 adjacent to the back side of the stick 21 and the distributing of the wires within the accommodating groove 37 as the stick is indexed. Thus the wire-guide arm 116 guides the wires 3838 to a position adjacent the successive slots 2424 and further maintains the necessary alignment of the wires for initial movement of the wires into the successive slots. The wire-guide arm 116 also facilitates the orderly dressing of the wires into the successive grooves 37 37.

Thereafter the rotary air cylinder 64 is operated to move the stick 21 from the 270 position, as illustrated in FIG. 17, to the zero degree position, as illustrated in FIG. 12. This movement of the stick 21 is in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed successively downwardly from FIG. 17 to FIG. 13, and permits the insertion of the wires 3838 through the second slot 24 of the stick 21. The stick 21 is now in a position for the next cycle of operation, which is identical to the one just described, wherein a second core 22 is assembled with the stick and in alignment with the second slot 24.

This procedure is continued until one of the cores 2222 has been assembled within each of the nests 29-29 of the stick 2]. The wires 3838 are then moved into a position adjacent to the terminals 33-33 at the right end of the stick 21, as viewed in FIG. 5, and wrapped therearound. Thereafter the wires 3838 are severed from the portions thereof which extend from the magazine 78. The stick 21 is removed from the apparatus 39 in a procedure which is the reverse of the assembly procedure to reveal the stick 21 having the assembled'cores 2222 secured thereto by the wires 3838 in the pattern illustrated in FIG. 4.

Thus the utilization of the apparatus 39 permits the assembly of fragile magnetic cores 2222 with the support stick 21. The utilization of the apparatus 39 facilitates the wiring and securing of the cores 2222 with the stick 21 by the various rocking and indexing movementsof the stick while selectively clamping the core temporarily and, further, while selectively guiding and distributing portions of the wires 38-38 into adjacent portions of the stick. The use of the apparatus 39 facilitates an essentially error-free operation and is time saving and economical as well as reducing the handling operations required of the fragile cores 22 22.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of assembling and securing an article with a support, which comprises the steps of:

threading a wire through an opening in an article;

locating one end of the wire adjacent to a support for the article; translating the article along the wire and into engagement in the assembled position with the support with at least a portion of the article being exposed on all surfaces;

clamping the article with the support to maintain the assembled position, and

moving relatively the support and the wire to wrap a portion of the wire which is adjacent to the article substantially about the exposed portion of the article'and about at least a portion of the support so that the clamped article is secured in the assembled position with the support solely by the wire.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clamping of the article is temporary and only for a period sufficient to hold the article with the support until the wire and support have been moved relatively to secure the article with the support.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises the step of:

moving the article with the support, after engagement of the article with the support, into engagement with'a clamping device to accomplish the step of clamping the article with the support.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of moving relatively the support and the wire comprises the steps of:

rocking the support about a longitudinal axis of the support, and

indexing the support in a direction longitudinally of the support so that the wire is wrapped about a portion of the article and the support.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises the steps of:

guiding the wire from the portion of the support having the article assembled therewith to another portion of the support spaced therefrom, and distributing the wire into an accommodating structure formed in the support while guiding the wire between the spaced portions of thesupport.

6. A method of assembling and securing an article with a support, which comprises the steps of:

threading a wire through an opening in an article;

positioning a portion of the wire adjacent to a suptranslating the article along the wire and into engagement in the assembled position with a portion of the support with at least a portion of the article being exposed on all sides;

moving relatively the support and the wireto wrap the portion of the wire adjacent to the article substantially about the exposed portion of the article and about at least a portion of the support so that the article is secured in the assembled position with the support solely by the wire, and

guiding and distributing the wire into an accommodating structure of the support between the artide-supporting portion and another portion of the support spaced therefrom.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the step of moving the support and the wire relatively comprises:

rocking the support about a longitudinal axis of the support, and

the step of guiding and distributing the wire comprises:

indexing the support longitudinally of the support so that the wire is guided and distributed into the accommodating structure of the support. 8. A method of assembling and securing cores with a support stick having a plurality of spaced, open nests for the cores aligned with spaced slots formed in the stick, which comprises the steps of:

threading at least one wire through openings in a plurality of cores;

attaching one end of the wire to a selected portion of a support stick;

positioning the wire from a back side of the stick, through one of a plurality of spaced slots formed in the stick with the wire extending from one of a plurality of open core nests formed in a front side of the stick adjacent to the slots;

translating one of the cores along the wire and into the assembled position within one of the open nests of the stick with at least a portion of the core being exposed on all surfaces;

clamping the translated core in the assembled position within the one open nest, and

positioning the wire over the clamped core and through the slot to the back side of the stick so that the wire is secured substantially about the exposed portion of the core in the assembled position with the support stick.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the clamping of the core with the stick is temporary and for a period sufficient to permit the positioning of the wire over the core and back through the slot to facilitate the permanent securing of the core with the stick.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises the steps of:

guiding the wire along the back side of the stick from one slot to another slot, and i distributing the guided wire into an accommodating structure within the back side of the stick.

1]. The method as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises the step ofi moving the stick, after the core has been moved into the nest, into engagement with a clamping device to accomplish the step of clamping the moved core in the assembled position within the nest.

12. The method of assembling and securing cores with a support stick as set forth in claim 10, which comprises further the steps of:

rocking the stick about a longitudinal axis of the stick when the wire is aligned with a 'slot and after the core has been moved into the nest in alignment with the slot, so that the wire is positioned over the clamped core and through the slot to the back side of the stick, and indexing the stick longitudinally of the stick so that the wire may be guided along the back side of the stick and distributed into the accommodating structure of the stick. 13. A method of assembling and securinglcores with a support stick having a plurality of spaced, open nests for the coresaligned with spaced slots formed in the stick, which comprises the steps of:

threading at least one wire through openings in a plurality of cores; attaching one end of the wire to a selected portion of a support stick;

positioning the wire from a back side of the stick, through one of a plurality of spaced slots formed in the stick with the wire extending from one ofa plurality of core nests formed in a front side of the stick adjacent to the slots;

translating one of the cores along the wire and into the assembled position within one of the open nests of the support with at least a portion of the core being exposed on all surfaces;

positioning the wire substantially about the exposed portion of the core and through the slot to the 7 back side of the stick, and

guiding and distributing the wire into an accommodating groove formed in the back side of the stick between adjacent slots so that the core is 

1. A method of assembling and securing an article with a support, which comprises the steps of: threading a wire through an opening in an article; locating one end of the wire adjacent to a support for the article; translating the article along the wire and into engagement in the assembled position with the support with at least a portion of the article being exposed on all surfaces; clamping the article with the support to maintain the assembled position, and moving relatively the support and the wire to wrap a portion of the wire which is adjacent to the article substantially about the exposed portion of the article and about at least a portion of the support so that the clamped article is secured in the assembled position with the support solely by the wire.
 1. A method of assembling and securing an article with a support, which comprises the steps of: threading a wire through an opening in an article; locating one end of the wire adjacent to a support for the article; translating the article along the wire and into engagement in the assembled position with the support with at least a portion of the article being exposed on all surfaces; clamping the article with the support to maintain the assembled position, and moving relatively the support and the wire to wrap a portion of the wire which is adjacent to the article substantially about the exposed portion of the article and about at least a portion of the support so that the clamped article is secured in the assembled position with the support solely by the wire.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clamping of the article is temporary and only for a period sufficient to hold the article with the support until the wire and support have been moved relatively to secure the article with the support.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises the step of: moving the article with the support, after engagement of the article with the support, into engagement with a clamping device to accomplish the step of clamping the article with the support.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of moving relatively the support and the wire comprises the steps of: rocking the support about a longitudinal axis of the support, and indexing the support in a direction longitudinally of the support so that the wire is wrapped about a portion of the article and the support.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises the steps of: guiding the wire from the portion of the support having the article assembled therewith to another portion of the support spaced therefrom, and distributing the wire into an accommodating structure formed in the support while guiding the wire between the spaced portions of the support.
 6. A method of assembling and securing an article with a support, which comprises the steps of: threading a wire through an opening in an article; positioning a portion of the wire adjacent to a support; translating the article along the wire and into engagement in the assembled position with a portion of the support with at least a portion of the article being exposed on all sides; moving relatively the support and the wire to wrap the portion of the wire adjacent to the article substantially about the exposed portion of the article and about at least a portion of the support so that the article is secured in the assembled position with the support solely by the wire, and guiding and distributing the wire into an accommodating structure of the support between the article-supporting portion and another portion of the support spaced therefrom.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein: the step of moving the support and the wire relatively comprises: rocking the support about a longitudinal axis of the support, and the step of guiding and distributing the wire comprises: indexing the support longitudinally of the support so that the wire is guided and distributed into the accommodating structure of the support.
 8. A method of assembling and securing cores with a support stick having a plurality of spaced, open nests for the cores aligned with spaced slots formed in the stick, which comprises the steps of: threading at least one wire through openings in a plurality of cores; attaching one end of the wire to a selected portion of a support stick; positioning the wire from a back side of the stick, through one of a plurality of spaced slots formed in the stick with the wire extending from one of a plurality of open core nests formed in a front side of the stick adjacent to the slots; translating one of the cores along the wire and into the assembled position within one of the open nests of the stick with at least a portion of the core being exposed on all surfaces; clamping the translated core in the assembled position within the one open nest, and positioning the wire over the clamped core and through the slot to the back side of the stick so that the wire is secured substantially about the exposed portion of the core in the assembled position with the support stick.
 9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the clamping of the core with the stick is temporary and for a period sufficient to permit the positioning of the wire over the core and back through the slot to facilitate the permanent securing of the core with the stick.
 10. The method as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises the steps of: guiding the wire along the back side of the stick from one slot to another slot, and distributing the guided wire into an accommodating structure within the back side of the stick.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises the step of: moving the stick, after the core has been moved into the nest, into engagement with a clamping device to accomplish the step of clamping the moved core in the assembled position within the nest.
 12. The method of assembling and securing cores with a support stick as set forth in claim 10, which comprises further the steps of: rocking the stick about a longitudinal axis of the stick when the wiRe is aligned with a slot and after the core has been moved into the nest in alignment with the slot, so that the wire is positioned over the clamped core and through the slot to the back side of the stick, and indexing the stick longitudinally of the stick so that the wire may be guided along the back side of the stick and distributed into the accommodating structure of the stick. 